Research Question: How does music effect people physically? (Focusing on music therapy)Author: Alyssa Nace Editorial
In this editorial, the author discusses how music therapy leaves a record with each and every patient. He began with a quote "Music leaves no record," and went on to describe how in music therapy sessions, music certainly does leave a record. They either actually record the music, take notes, film it, or analyze and remember the music they make. The author says, "A musical experience is part of what authors a life". Music permeates our world, and oftentimes we use it for direction,consolation/solace, enjoyment, and stress relief. This was a very short editorial, and only about half of it was useful to me. However, it was the only editorial I could find that discussed music therapy from a more personal perspective.
Kirkland, K. (2010, January 1). Editorial. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, pp. 8–9.
Spunk, courage, determination
In this newspaper article, the amazing recovery of a North Attleboro resident, Laurel Fontaine, is told. At the age of 11 she had a stroke. She was playing tag outside with her twin sister, Heather, when she suddenly felt sick and collapsed. She was in a coma for 10 days and doctors gave her parents very little hope that Laurel would regain her ability to walk, talk, or take care of herself. "Because the stroke decimated most of the left side of Laurel's brain, which controls speech, talking was a particular challenge" and she went to speech therapy for a year, without success. Her mother then learned of a melodic therapy study geared towards adult stroke victims and did everything she could to get her daughter into the study. She was allowed in because they could use her twin sister's brain scans to analyze Laurel's growth. The music therapy proved successful as she began her journey knowing only 8 words and now knows about 8,000! Laurel plans on becoming a motivational speaker because, as she says: "I want to give others hope so they understand with hard work and a positive attitude things can get better". I found this source particularly inspiring. I actually heard about Laurel through a coworker of mine, and I was so amazed and looked up her story myself . Her progress is absolutely astounding and proves that music therapy truly works wonders.
In this journal, the author discusses motor responses to music and the physical effects of listening to music. It discusses the more immediate physical effects such as heart rate, muscle tension, and respiration. The most attention has been given to heart rate yet "the relationship between [heart rate] and music is still unclear... it was once believed that the heart would ... accommodate its beat to the pulse of the music being heard", but all studies have had insufficient proof to determine a definitive answer. Even less attention has been given to respiration and muscle tension. There is no definitive answer as to how it affects breathing, but most studies have shown that more intense music causes tenser muscles and soft, soothing music eases the muscles. Though in my topic question I decided to focus more on music therapy, I decided to include this journal because it discusses how music physically effects everyone, not just people with disabilities.
Dainow, E. (1977). Physical Effects and Motor Responses to Music. Journal of Research in Music Education, 25(3), 211–221. doi:10.2307/3345305
A Feasibility Study of the Effects of Music and Movement on Physical Function
In this study publishedin a journal, researchers observed how musical cues in exercise programs possibly affected certain motor functions of people with Parkinson's Disease. The exercise programs use Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), which is a series of rhythmic pulses, "to train movements that occur in cycles, such as walking gait, and can be used to enhance other rhythmic movements such as movements of limbs." A certain sound corresponds to a specific kind of movement, usually one that the participants need to perform on a daily basis. The studyalso suggests possible long-term outcomes of these exercise programs such as a better quality of life, less or no depression, and less or no anxiety. I chose to include this journal study even though it doesn't discuss music therapy because it was geared towards helping people with a disease (Parkinson's). Also, using music cues shows how sometimes music can be better understood and more helpful than just being told to do something.
Clair, A. A., Lyons, K. E., & Hamburg, J. (2012). A Feasibility Study of the Effects of Music and Movement on Physical Function, Quality of Life, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients With Parkinson Disease. Music and Medicine, 4(1), 49–55. doi:10.1177/1943862111425680
Treating Alzheimer's
The majority of this CQ Researcher report discusses what causes Alzheimer's, how Alzheimer's is treated, how much these treatments cost, whether or not doctors are ready to treat the "baby boomers" who may develop Alzheimer's soon, and research into a cure. "With the first of the nation's 76 million baby boomers turning 65, health-care experts expect a growing flood of people with Alzheimer's and other age-related dementia." Lawmakers also were worried because they passed the National Alzheimer's Project Act in December 2012. The report very briefly talks about how music has helped people with Alzheimer's. Many Alzheimer's patients participate in "music, painting, sculpture, comedy, drama, poetry and the other arts [because they] link together separate brain locations in which memories and skills lie." This probably isn't the best source I found, but I couldn't find any better source through ERIC or the CQ Researcher.
Baker, B. (2011, March 4). Treating Alzheimer’s. CQ Researcher by CQ Press. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://0-library.cqpress.com.helin.uri.edu/cqresearcher/cqresrre2011030400 Overall Reaction to My Research I was impressed by all the success stories I found, most of which aren't listed here. When I first learned what my question was, I couldn't think of how music could effect someone physically. After some research though, I learned that music really can have positive physical effects. From what I've learned, music therapy is a helpful tool in treating the signs and side effects a variety of illnesses and diseases. This research project was enlightening and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed researching this topic.
Relevance in Rhode Island Schools I grew up in Rhode Island and I have seen many of the changes made in our schools. One thing that has always struck me as odd is that whenever money is running low and schools rethink their budgets, it's the art and music departments that get budget cuts. After researching how music and music therapy effects people physically, I am even more decidedly against cutting budgets to music departments. I believe that students have a lot to gain from being involved in music, and limiting the already insufficient funds for music departments does students no justice.
Relevance to Charter Schools From what I've learned in EDC 102H, many charter schools have music classes and those that don't have optional music programs. The charter school I researched, International Charter School (here), had music classes. When I was researching ICS I noticed that they were incredibly proud of their music programs and how they were incorporated into the curriculum. I think that they have a better understanding of the benefits of music for students than public schools do. Or perhaps they just have the money to spend; I don't know. Either way they have the kind of great music program that many public schools lack.
Editorial
In this editorial, the author discusses how music therapy leaves a record with each and every patient. He began with a quote "Music leaves no record," and went on to describe how in music therapy sessions, music certainly does leave a record. They either actually record the music, take notes, film it, or analyze and remember the music they make. The author says, "A musical experience is part of what authors a life". Music permeates our world, and oftentimes we use it for direction, consolation/solace, enjoyment, and stress relief.
This was a very short editorial, and only about half of it was useful to me. However, it was the only editorial I could find that discussed music therapy from a more personal perspective.
Kirkland, K. (2010, January 1). Editorial. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, pp. 8–9.
Spunk, courage, determination
In this newspaper article, the amazing recovery of a North Attleboro resident, Laurel Fontaine, is told. At the age of 11 she had a stroke. She was playing tag outside with her twin sister, Heather, when she suddenly felt sick and collapsed. She was in a coma for 10 days and doctors gave her parents very little hope that Laurel would regain her ability to walk, talk, or take care of herself. "Because the stroke decimated most of the left side of Laurel's brain, which controls speech, talking was a particular challenge" and she went to speech therapy for a year, without success. Her mother then learned of a melodic therapy study geared towards adult stroke victims and did everything she could to get her daughter into the study. She was allowed in because they could use her twin sister's brain scans to analyze Laurel's growth. The music therapy proved successful as she began her journey knowing only 8 words and now knows about 8,000! Laurel plans on becoming a motivational speaker because, as she says: "I want to give others hope so they understand with hard work and a positive attitude things can get better".
I found this source particularly inspiring. I actually heard about Laurel through a coworker of mine, and I was so amazed and looked up her story myself . Her progress is absolutely astounding and proves that music therapy truly works wonders.
DeMelia, A. (2013, November 10). Spunk, courage, determination. The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/spunk-courage-determination/article_96a3a86c-a8f2-53a5-b7da-1c08e3ad2f5d.html
Physical Effects and Motor Responses to Music
In this journal, the author discusses motor responses to music and the physical effects of listening to music. It discusses the more immediate physical effects such as heart rate, muscle tension, and respiration. The most attention has been given to heart rate yet "the relationship between [heart rate] and music is still unclear... it was once believed that the heart would ... accommodate its beat to the pulse of the music being heard", but all studies have had insufficient proof to determine a definitive answer. Even less attention has been given to respiration and muscle tension. There is no definitive answer as to how it affects breathing, but most studies have shown that more intense music causes tenser muscles and soft, soothing music eases the muscles.
Though in my topic question I decided to focus more on music therapy, I decided to include this journal because it discusses how music physically effects everyone, not just people with disabilities.
Dainow, E. (1977). Physical Effects and Motor Responses to Music. Journal of Research in Music Education, 25(3), 211–221. doi:10.2307/3345305
A Feasibility Study of the Effects of Music and Movement on Physical Function
In this study published in a journal, researchers observed how musical cues in exercise programs possibly affected certain motor functions of people with Parkinson's Disease. The exercise programs use Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), which is a series of rhythmic pulses, "to train movements that occur in cycles, such as walking gait, and can be used to enhance other rhythmic movements such as movements of limbs." A certain sound corresponds to a specific kind of movement, usually one that the participants need to perform on a daily basis. The study also suggests possible long-term outcomes of these exercise programs such as a better quality of life, less or no depression, and less or no anxiety.
I chose to include this journal study even though it doesn't discuss music therapy because it was geared towards helping people with a disease (Parkinson's). Also, using music cues shows how sometimes music can be better understood and more helpful than just being told to do something.
Clair, A. A., Lyons, K. E., & Hamburg, J. (2012). A Feasibility Study of the Effects of Music and Movement on Physical Function, Quality of Life, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients With Parkinson Disease. Music and Medicine, 4(1), 49–55. doi:10.1177/1943862111425680
Treating Alzheimer's
The majority of this CQ Researcher report discusses what causes Alzheimer's, how Alzheimer's is treated, how much these treatments cost, whether or not doctors are ready to treat the "baby boomers" who may develop Alzheimer's soon, and research into a cure. "With the first of the nation's 76 million baby boomers turning 65, health-care experts expect a growing flood of people with Alzheimer's and other age-related dementia." Lawmakers also were worried because they passed the National Alzheimer's Project Act in December 2012. The report very briefly talks about how music has helped people with Alzheimer's. Many Alzheimer's patients participate in "music, painting, sculpture, comedy, drama, poetry and the other arts [because they] link together separate brain locations in which memories and skills lie."
This probably isn't the best source I found, but I couldn't find any better source through ERIC or the CQ Researcher.
Baker, B. (2011, March 4). Treating Alzheimer’s. CQ Researcher by CQ Press. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://0-library.cqpress.com.helin.uri.edu/cqresearcher/cqresrre2011030400
Overall Reaction to My Research
I was impressed by all the success stories I found, most of which aren't listed here. When I first learned what my question was, I couldn't think of how music could effect someone physically. After some research though, I learned that music really can have positive physical effects. From what I've learned, music therapy is a helpful tool in treating the signs and side effects a variety of illnesses and diseases. This research project was enlightening and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed researching this topic.
Relevance in Rhode Island Schools
I grew up in Rhode Island and I have seen many of the changes made in our schools. One thing that has always struck me as odd is that whenever money is running low and schools rethink their budgets, it's the art and music departments that get budget cuts. After researching how music and music therapy effects people physically, I am even more decidedly against cutting budgets to music departments. I believe that students have a lot to gain from being involved in music, and limiting the already insufficient funds for music departments does students no justice.
Relevance to Charter Schools
From what I've learned in EDC 102H, many charter schools have music classes and those that don't have optional music programs. The charter school I researched, International Charter School (here), had music classes. When I was researching ICS I noticed that they were incredibly proud of their music programs and how they were incorporated into the curriculum. I think that they have a better understanding of the benefits of music for students than public schools do. Or perhaps they just have the money to spend; I don't know. Either way they have the kind of great music program that many public schools lack.